Clad in fluffy slippers and dressing gowns, filming for Snapchat or going live on TikTok they gathered outside Strangeways prison.
Their attention on a man in a bin bag on the roof in the fading light and drizzle.
Officers had swarmed the streets around the perimeter of the city centre prison shortly after 4:30pm, cordoning off roads and warning those who stopped to quickly snap their own pictures to swiftly move away from the scene.
In the distance, the small figure of a man, wearing a bin bag, could be seen on all fours scaling the roof of one of the buildings in the prison grounds, before waving his arms in the air and repeatedly shouting at the top of his voice.
READ MORE: LIVE: Prisoner spotted on roof of Strangeways prison - latest updates
The saga continued when the inmate sketched “Free IPPZ” onto the roof of the building before continually shouting out the phrase, in what appeared to be a protest against the abolished court sanction titled Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences (IPP).
As the rain lashed down on Wednesday evening and gusts of wind grew stronger, many watching on assumed he would give up. He could be seen visibly sodden, shivering and rubbing his hands together to try and keep warm - but remained stationed on the roof for hours more.
As the night ticked on and another hour passed, more cars began lining nearby Lord Street and Southall Street, with a continuously increasing number of spectators showing up to watch the incident unfold.
Some came clad in fluffy slippers and dressing gowns, filming for Snapchat or going live on TikTok, as others turned out in cars with blasting loud music providing entertainment as they eagerly watched on. Families also spectated with young children and babies in prams.
“Go on lad!” shouted some in a seeming call of solidarity for his protest - as others laughed and giggled, whistling with their fingers in an attempt to grab his attention.
As the night fell the protestor could be seen drying his clothes on the roof using one of the shiny metal chimneys, seemingly undeterred by the plummeting temperatures and Manchester's famous drizzle.
The incident finally ended at around 4.30am as ambulances were seen leaving the prison and the police cordons were removed.
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